As a result, they argued, people had lost trust in courts and preferred to get such issues resolved through local jirgas and tribal mediation.

A tribal elder, Maulvi Amanullah Enayat, told Pajhwok lack of courts in districts and satisfactory decisions by jirgas attracted people’s attention towards jirgas, which gave people their rights.

But Provincial Council Chairman Sadullah Payandazoy acknowledging issues were somewhat resolved by tribal jirgas. But he explained the trend was not linked to lack of confidence in courts; instead it was because of custom in the province.

The Nuristan governor’s spokesman, Saeed Momand, said inhabitants of the province took their issues to tribal jirgas as part of their traditions and it had nothing to do with courts.

“This is not because of lack of trust in the judicial organs.” He alleged prosecutors, courts and legal institutions were operational in all districts except Kamdesh.

Meanwhile, Nuristan Appellate Court Judge Mohammad Hakim Kunari also expressed similar views. He insisted they were addressing every matter as part of their religious and national obligations.

About Alina’s case, he said: “This issue has been on hold because the girl herself is culpable in the application.” In addition to incidents of violence, subjecting women to hard labour is widespread in the province.